Test Your Sodium Smarts Quiz Answers

1. 1 small slice of French bread has more sodium.

No matter how you slice it, bread is one of the most common sources of sodium. Sodium is added to bread to help with the texture and rising action of the dough. The amount of sodium differs by bread type and can add up quickly when you eat more than one slice.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

2. 1 slice of American cheese has more sodium.

American cheese is a highly processed cheese-like product. Highly processed foods tend to be high in sodium because food manufacturers use salt or other sodium-containing compounds to preserve food and to improve their taste and texture.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed)

3. 1/3 cup of potato salad has more sodium.

Salt is often added to commercially prepared (e.g., store-bought) potato salad for taste. You can make potato salad with a low-sodium recipe that uses herbs and spices.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

4. 1 cup of raisin bran cereal has more sodium.

Since raisin bran tastes sweet,it may come as a surprise as to how much sodium can be in commercial breakfast cereals. Salt is added to sweet foods in processing to enhance their flavor, so even sweet-tasting cereals like raisin bran can have lots of sodium.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

5. 1 ounce (28g) of hard pretzels has more sodium.

Don’t get the facts twisted – Hard pretzels can have more sodium for the same total weight than potato chips, because salt is added to hard pretzels for texture, not just for taste. For potato chips, salt is added at the end of food processing and applied on the surface to enhance the flavor. To limit your sodium consumption, buy unsalted potato chips and pretzels. But remember that unsalted potato chips have virtually no sodium, while unsalted pretzels can pack 82 mg per ounce.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

6. 2 tablespoons of Italian salad dressing has more sodium.

Prepared salad dressings can be high in sodium, depending on the dressing type, other ingredients and taste preference. Be sure to select low-sodium salad dressings or use a low-sodium recipe to whip up a salad dressing at home.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

7. 2 slices of regular ham has more sodium.

Sodium in processed meats like ham, bacon and hot dogs can come from salt added for taste and sodium-containing ingredients used as preservatives to enhance the color or retain moisture. The American Heart Association recommends that you limit the consumption of processed meats to no more than two servings a week.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

8. 1/2 cup of Alfredo pasta sauce has more sodium.

Alfredo sauce has more sodium, calories and fats than spaghetti/marinara sauce. Prepared pasta sauces are traditionally very high in sodium, although the sodium content can vary greatly depending on the brand and flavor. Several food manufacturers have offered products with less sodium.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

9. 1 cup of chicken noodle soup has more sodium.

Salt may be more necessary to provide taste for traditional canned chicken noodle soup than tomato soup, but here is the scoop on soup: All canned varieties can have high amounts of sodium. In recent years, tasty soups with less sodium have become available pick these whenever you can.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed

10. 1 tbsp of soy sauce has more sodium.

Not surprised? The big surprise may be how high in sodium both soy sauce and teriyaki sauce can be. The 1,006 mg of sodium per 1 tablespoon (tbsp) of soy sauce is almost equivalent to that contained in 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of salt (1,200 mg). Choose low-sodium or light soy sauce at grocery stores and restaurants.
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, supplemented by published data from food packages if needed